Joel a



aw mu M Tllqllllllnwlllllllllllllln SIGN.

J as I J. A. PRATT.

(No Model.)

N. PETERS Faomum a hen Washington. D. c.

WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOEL A. PRATT, OF MOUNT AYR, IOWVA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO J. O. FRY,OF SAME PLACE.

SIGN.

srnorr'rcnrrorv forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,730, dated April27, 1886,

Application filed August 14, 1885. Serial No. 174,431. (No model.)

T at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOEL A. PRATT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mount Ayr, in the county of Binggold and State of Iowa, haveinvented a new and useful Im-v when the strength of the wind increasesabove.

the estimated strength to which the device is proportioned and arrangedit will only revolve its certain number of times; which shall give forthwhen the sign proper is in motion a number of musical sounds inconsonance with each other, and so arranged and sounded that theyproduce the tune of some popular air or ballad to attract the attentionof passers-by to the sign, and which shall combine strength, simplicity,and durability of construction with cheapness of manufacture andefficiency in operation.

I have shown an embodiment of my invention in the accompanying drawings,in which Figure l is an elevation of an advertising-sign embodying myinvention. Fig. 2isavertical central section thereof on the line as a:of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a detailed view of one of the sectionalcollecting-hoods; and Fig. 4 is a detail view of one of the bells andits sounding mechanism, which comprise the means for producing themusical sounds which compose the tune, &c. Fig. 5 is a horizontalsection.

Like letters of reference indicate like or corresponding parts in allthe figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the central supporting-standard,secured in abase, A, rigidly secured to a floor or other place.

B designates the sign frame, preferably square in shape, and adapted torotate horizontally around the standard or pole A. The

frame may be hexagonal, octagonal, circular, or other shape, andcomprises aseries of vertical bars, B, arranged a suitable distance fromeach other and connected at their ends by horizontal cross-bars B whichmeet together at the standard, and are secured to a plate or plates, ortogether, in any preferable manner. The upright bars may be secureddirectly to a flat plate or bar, which is jour- 6onaled upon thestandard A, so as to be capable of rotating freely around the same todisplay the sign in different direct-ions and operate the strikingmechanism to the bells or chimes.

The upright bars of the revolving frame have secured to their exteriorfaces acovering, of cloth, muslin, cotton, or other fabric or material,as at O, by means of tacks, nails, or otherwise, and on which the signs,figures, 7o 8tc., are painted or affixed in any suitable or preferablemanner.

D designates a ring or band arranged around the upright or standard A atsome distance therefrom, and within the frame 13 a short dis tance fromthe vertical bars B thereof. The rings or bands are arranged in series,one abovethe other, and the number of rings corresponds to the number ofbells E on which the notes are sounded which produce the tune so or air.

The devices for producing the sounds are operated on the principle ofthe chime-bells or the music-box, and are operated automatically by thesign-frame revolving around the 3 frame-supporting standard, the time orrapidity of the tune or air being governed by the number of revolutionsof thesignframe. Eaclr/ ring or band is held in position by a series ofwings or bars, F, secured upon each of the uprights B, and connectedthereto and v to the ring in any preferable manner. The ring or band isprovided with a series of inwardly-projecting pins, 6, arranged atsuitable intervals apart, as will be more fully described, and adaptedto operate the bellstriking lever, G, supported in a frame, H. The frameH comprises vertical bars H, connected at their upper and lower ends bycrossbars 11*, rigidly secured to the post or standard A, said framehaving a series of vertical slots, h 71, formed in the upright barsthereof,

through which thebell-strikinglevers G pass, the outer end of saidlevers being pivoted in the outer vertical bar of the frame H, as at g,and provided with a weight, G, to keep the 5 outer end thereof depressedbelow the inner thereof falls and strikes its bell and gives forth theproper note or sound. 'The inner power of which serves to propel thesame and the signframe to which it is secured around and present thesucceeding hood J to the action of the wind, each hood beingsuccessively presented to the action of the wind and rotat ing thesign-frame in a horizontal plane.

The hood is made hollow and of light sheet metal, and it is supported onthe revolving sign-frameiu a slightly-inclined position. The apex of thehood may be arranged to project below the upper edge of the sign-frame,so thatit will lie in a position to utilize the force i the wind, thatacts to a greater extent on the upper section of the hood.

end of the lever works in an elongated slot in tions, J, which fittogether and are of equal the inner upright bar of the frame H and keptnormally elevated above the outer end thereof by the weight G on saidwith corresponding ears on the adjacent secadjacent the levers G, andbelow the plane of from the foregoing distances apart to suit therequirements of the case, an air or tune of any popu- 0 lar song can beplayed upon the bells, thus greatly increasing the effectiveness of thede vice by drawing the attention of the passersby to the sign.

*TYWEUADG, each bell having a different tone and and sound the verticalstrips arranged mit the inner reduced ends thereof to open when thestrength of the wind has increased above the estimated strength to whichthe hood is proportioned, thus permitting the wind to pass through thehood, and obviating the danger of overturning or upsetting the device.

The operation of my invention is obvious description. The signframe isrotated in a horizontal plane by the wind striking against thecollecting-hoods, and carries with it the bands or rings that carry thepins which operate the bell-striking levers device is in use, althoughthey can be readily transported from place to place, while thesign-frame is revoluble to cause the pins to act upon the bell-strikinglevers.

In lieu of pins on the ring or track, a series my invention, theessential parts of which will be readily understood from the foregoingdescription, taken in connection with "the drawings.

In lieu of the devices for revolving the sign- The sign-frame is adaptedto be revolved by frame by wind-power, I also propose to propel theforce or power of the wind and is placed or revolve the same by weightor spring power out of doors.

Each of the vertical standards of the signframe is provided at its upperedge with a said cross-bar is secured a collectinghood, J by means ofnails, screws, or other preferable means, passed through the lowersurface th ereof into the cross-bar. are preferably cone-shaped, asshown, and are arranged in an approximately horizontal position and atdifferent angles to each other, and adapted to catch the wind, the forceor The collecting-hoods journaled connected thereto in any suitable orpreferable manner.

Having thus fully described my invention,

cross-bar, I, suitably secured thereto, and to what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a rigid supporting standard, a horizontalrotatable sign-frame on the standard, and a series of collecting-hoodsrigidly secured in a horizontal or approximately horizontal position onthe sign-frame at the upper edges thereof and disposed at differentangles to each other, each hood being made cone-shaped and comprisingtwo longitudinal sections that are pivoted together at their enlargedends and adapted to be opened at their reduced ends when the force ofthe wind increases above the strength of the wind to which the sectionsof the hood are proportioned, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a rigid standard, a rotating sign-frame mountedthereon and carrying bands or rings provided with lever'opcrating means,a series of bells, and movable bell-hammers arranged to be actuated bythe said means on the rings or bands to strike the bells when thesign-frame is rotated, substantially as described.

8. The combination of a rigid standard, a horizontally-rotatablesign-frame supported thereon, and having rings or bands provided withlever-operating means, a series'of bells of different tone or quality,and a series of pivoted bell-hammers adapted to be operated by thedevices on the rings or bands to strike the bells, substantially asdescribed.

4:. The combination ofa rigid supportingstandard, a rotatable sign-framejournaled thereon, and provided with rings having operating devices,aseries ofbells of different tones, a frame,and a series of bell-hammerssupported in the frame and adapted to be operated by the operatingdevices on the bands of the signframe to strike the bells, substantiallyas described.

5. The combination of a rigid standard, A, a horizontally-rotatablesign-frame supported thereon, a series of rings or bands secured to thesaid frame and provided with spaced pins, a series of bells of variabletone or quality, a

rigid frame supported on provided with spaced pins e,

the standard, and a series of bell-hammers pivoted in the rigid frameand having their ends free to be acted on by the pins and to strike thebells, substantially as described.

6. In a sign, the combination of a vertical rigid standard, A, ahorizontallyrotatable sign-frame supported thereon, a series of rings orbands, D, secured on the sign-frame and a series of bells mounted on thestandard, a rigid frame, H, secured to the standard and having an innerand outer upright, and a series of bell-hammers pivoted in the outerupright of the frame and having their opposite ends guided in the innerupright of said frame, substantially as described.

7. In an advertising-sign, the combination of a supporting-standard, ahorizontally-revolving sign-frame mounted on said standard, a series ofrings secured to the sign-frame and having a series of pins, a series ofbells secured on the standard,a leversupporting frame secured to thestandard and slotted, as described, a series of bell-striking levershaving a weighted end andpivoted in the supportingframe, and a series ofsectional pivoted co'llectinghoods mounted on the signframe,substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

Jenn A. PRATT.

W'itnesses:

O. B. Moimrs, HARRY Foorn.

